Harare - In a surprising turn of events, the West Indies cricket team will not be participating in the upcoming World Cup to be held in India this October-November. Once a dominant force in cricket, the West Indies team's hopes were dashed when they suffered a defeat at the hands of Scotland by three wickets on Saturday, effectively ending their World Cup journey with two matches remaining. The upcoming World Cup will feature ten teams, with the top eight teams in the ICC ODI ranking earning direct qualification. Unfortunately, the West Indies failed to secure a spot in the top eight and were subsequently relegated to the World Cup qualifiers in Zimbabwe. Their chances of advancing were significantly reduced after losses to Zimbabwe and the Netherlands during the group stage. The defeat against Scotland served as the final blow, sealing the West Indies' exit from the World Cup contention.

During the match at Harare Sports Club, West Indies were bowled out for a total of 181 runs in 43.5 overs of the scheduled 50-over match after a slow start. Former captain Jason Holder displayed some resistance, scoring 45 runs off 79 balls with three fours and a six, while Romario Sephard contributed 36 runs off 43 balls, including five fours. Scotland's Brendan McMullen emerged as the star performer, claiming three wickets and conceding 32 runs in his nine overs. Chris Sole, Mark Watt, and Chris Greaves also took three wickets each, further solidifying Scotland's victory. Scotland comfortably chased down the target with 6.3 overs to spare, thanks to McMullen's impressive knock of 69 runs. McMullen partnered with Matthew Cross to build a crucial 125-run stand for the second wicket, setting the stage for Scotland's triumph. Cross remained unbeaten on 74 runs off 107 balls, hitting seven fours along the way.

Scotland's victory in this Super Six match keeps their hopes of qualifying for the World Cup alive. With six points each, Zimbabwe and Sri Lanka are in contention, while Scotland trails closely with four points. The Netherlands currently holds two points, while the West Indies and Oman are yet to secure any points. The top two teams from this group will secure their place in the World Cup. While the absence of the West Indies, who were victorious in the first two editions of the World Cup in 1975 and 1979, will undoubtedly be felt, cricket fans around the world eagerly await the intense competition that lies ahead in the forthcoming tournament.